Boy’s Navy SEAL dream comes true

George Alvarado has the right stuff, it seems, to fit in with some of America’s top-rated airmen and sailors, despite being a heart transplant patient at age 15.

We first met George in September, less than three months after his transplant, when San Antonio Express-News photographer John Davenport took some photos of him getting a tour of F-16 flight operations at Lackland AFB.

Earlier this month, he got the wish that Staff Writer Abe Levy reported on in a story in December, as part of our annual Grace of Giving series. Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, George got to fly to San Diego, Calif., and live the life of Navy SEAL.

According to a Navy news release, George, who used to be home-schooled because of his condition but now attends Stevens High School, went through some of the “rigors” of training and got to ride an 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat.

At the end of the day, Rear Adm. Edward Winters designated George as an Honorary Frogman.